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"That’s fine," Chris states, "as long as the outco twenty-five percent of ht"

My stoure, and the demand Chris has made Dread fills me as I realize what this must be about Chris wanted me out of here He toldme out Why? Why does this matter to him?

Mark’s eyes flash with ice and settle onto firemy dismissal for the near future Instead, he shocks me with a curt, "Twenty-five percent, Ms McMillan but be clear Future rewards will be negotiated between you and I or not at all Understood?"

I blink at hie to calculate twenty-five percent of the roughly three hundred grand Chris has sold tonight Surely Mark has not just agreed to pay me fifty thousand dollars

"Ms McMillan," he snaps "Are we clear?"

"Yes," I rasp "Yes I…of course Understood"

Mark’s gaze shifts back to Chris "If there’s nothing else, I have customers to attend and so does Ms McMillan" He doesn’t wait to find out if there is anything else He turns on his heel and departs, leavingwith the ihon Chris, I barely muster the will to keep my voice low, and it’s all I can do to re "What have you done?" The question comes out a hiss and I jerk my hand back with as , but he holds it still

"Made sure you’re no one’s captive"

"By getting o, Chris"

"You aren’t going to get fired, Sara"

"Let go of round out between ether, and with obvious reluctance, he releasestoto the fancy guest bathroo to do the completely unacceptable, and cry in public I’m not a crier I’ve never been a crier, but this is ht I could be here, belong here That a fa to destroy me I am embarrassed and hurt I hurt This hurts Chris hurtthe corner, I enter the hallway, and Chris is suddenly there in the narrow passage withoes instinctively to his t-shirt-clad chest I am immediately aware of the intimacy of the touch, of my body’s reaction to the ainst another wall and try to inti to inti you, Sara" His handstouch is instant I cover his hands withto control what he does next, but it doesn’t help Now, my hands are on his hands and his hands are on round out, "but you had no right to do what you did"

"He had to know he couldn’t manipulate your dream Money, and my many resources at your disposal, does that"

His words knock er and my breath away, and confusion consumes me His actions and his words conflict at every turn "Why would you helpin this world"

"Because I won’t watch hiobble you up and destroy you"

I remember his words, and understand now that he wanted allery, not this profession "Because he’s a dark, ant assle ill play withelse left of ht"

"And yet you say you’re worse"

He stiffens and cuts his gaze, see me in a turbulent stare "I am, Sara, which is why you should run as far away from me as you can And I should step back and let you"

"Then why aren’t you?" I whisper

His eyes hold mine, and what I see there, the depth of his desire, overwhelms me He flattens his palm on my belly and I tremble beneath the touch, and he has to feel it too "Because," his voice low, seductive, his hand traveling up the center ofI want to do to you, everywhere I want to touch you"

His hand presses to the swell between my brsts, and my niles ache with a wish he would touch the sultry and dark inside irl school teacher who is appalled I haven’t stopped this I want him I want hiaze lowers tome and I have never wanted to be kissed so badly in ood as I think you do?" he asks, but he doesn’t wait for ers have tunneled intoto the moment, to the man I melt into him, welcoue presses past er, his need There is possessiveness to his kiss, to his hand onme closer I am lost in the ache that has becoer I cannot resist He says he’s protecting erous I ary with hi why